Beechwood students win state bowling title

FORT MITCHELL, Ky. (WKRC) – Two Beechwood students, one of whom is in a wheelchair, returned to Fort Mitchell on Thursday as state champions.

Hailey Noah and Jensen Linder won the 2020 KHSAA State Bowling Unified Championship in Louisville when Noah rolled a turkey (three consecutive strikes) in the 10th frame to clinch a 159-122 victory.

The pair rolled up to Beechwood in style with a police escort Thursday in honor of the victory.

“Very excited,” said Noah.

Coach Mary Ela Rorer said Unified sports are sponsored by the Special Olympics. It gives athletes, like Noah, who is in a wheelchair, the chance to compete on a school team.

“They’ll have a partner and mentor, and they’ll lean on the mentor. The mentor will teach them how to do the sport and their scores combine,” said Rorer.

Noah’s partner and friend, Linder, is on the school’s bowling team. He willingly sacrificed his season to compete with Noah.

“I have so much joy bowling with her. She brightens up my day, for sure. I’m a senior and opportunities like this don’t come around twice, so I couldn’t pass up on this at all,” said Linder.

In the 10th frame of the state finals in Louisville, Noah bowled three consecutive strikes to give the duo a win.

“I was bawling my eyes out. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. She’s amazing,” said Linder.

The champions showed off their medals, and Noah is especially grateful for her teammate and coach.

“I love them,” she said.

Beechwood was proud of the duo and would not welcome them back in any other fashion.

“Everybody wants to be involved with everybody. Everybody knows everybody. Things like this, I mean we got a police escort for winning state in bowling Unified. It’s just crazy on how much everyone supports each other,” said Linder.

Noah and Linder competed against teams from 14 other Kentucky schools.

Image Source:*local12.com

Source:local12.com